The Power Of God # 2

 The Power Of God # 2

"Lo, these are parts of His ways: but how little a portion is heard of Him? but the thunder of His power who can understand?" (Job 26:14). Who is able to count all the monuments of His power? Even that which is displayed of His might in the visible creation is utterly beyond our powers of conception, still less are we able to conceive of omnipotence itself. There is infinitely more power lodged in the nature of God than is expressed in all His works.

"Parts of His ways" we behold in creation, providence, redemption, but only a "little part" of His might is seen in them. Remarkably is this brought out, "And  there was no hiding of His powers" (Habakkuk 3:4). It is scarcely possible to imagine anything moe grandiose than the imagery of this whole chapter, yet nothing in it surpasses the nobility of this statement. The prophet (in vision) beheld the mighty God scattering the hills and overturning the mountains, which one would think afforded an amazing demonstration of His power. Nay, says our verse, that is rather the "hiding" than the displaying of His power. What is meant? This: so inconceivable, so immense, so uncontrollable is the power of Deity, that the fearful convulsions which He works in nature conceal, more than they reveal, of His infinite might!

It is very beautiful to link together the following passages:

He "treads upon the waves of the sea" (Job 9:8) which expresses God's uncontrollable power.

"He walks in the circuit of Heaven" (Job 22:14), which tells of the immensity of His presence.

He "walks upon the wings of the wind" (Psalm 104:3), which signifies the amazing swiftness of His operations. 

Let us now consider God's power in CREATION. "The heavens are Yours, and the earth is Yours, everything in the world is Yours - You created it all. You created north and south (Psalm 89:11). Before man  can work he must have both tools and materials - btu God began with nothing, and by His Word alone out of nothing made all things. The intellect cannot grasp it. "God spoke, and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast" (Psalm 33:9). Primeval matter heard His voice. "God said, Let there be ... and it was so" (Genesis 1). Well may we exclaim, "You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted" (Psalm 89:13).

"Who that looks upward to the midnight sky, and , with an eye of reason, beholds its rolling wonders; who can forbear inquiring: "Of what were their mighty orbs formed?" Amazing to relate, they were produced without materials. They sprang from emptiness itself. The stately fabric of universal nature emerged out of nothing. How was it all connected into one finely-proportioned and nobly finished structure?  The Lord merely spoke and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born." (Psalm 33;6).

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 3)

The Power Of God # 1

 The Power Of God # 1

We cannot have a right conception of God unless we think of Him as all-powerful, as well as all-wise. He who cannot do what he will, and perform all his pleasure, cannot be God. As God has a will to resolve what he deems good, so has He power to execute His will.

"The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatever He pleases, whatever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatever the infinite purity of His will may resolve - As holiness is the beauty of all God's attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the divine nature. How vain would be the eternal counsels, if power did not step in to execute them. Without power - His mercy would be but feeble pity. His promises is like Himself - infinite, eternal, incomprehensible; it can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature!" (Stephen Charnock).

"God has spoken once; twice have I heard this, that power belongs unto God." (Psalm 62:11). "God has spoken once" - nothing more is necessary! "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but His Word abides forever."

"God has spoken once" - how befitting His divine majesty! We por mortals may speak often and yet fail to be heard. He speaks but once and the thunder of His power is heard on a thousand hills.

"The Lord thundered from Heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals. He shot His arrows and scattered His enemies; His lightning flashed, and they were greatly confused. Then at Your command, O Lord, at the blast of Your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare." (Psalm 18:13-15).

"God has spoken once" - behold His unchanging authority. "For who in the Heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?" (Psalm 89:6). "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of Heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: What have You done?" (Daniel 4:35).

This was openly displayed when God became became incarnate and tabernacled among men. To the leper He said, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing, be healed!" And instantly he was cured of his leprosy." (Matt. 8:3). To one who had lain in the grave four days He cried, "Lazarus, come forth" - and the dead came forth. The stormy wind and the angry waves were hushed at a single word from Him. A legion of demons could not resist His authoritative command.

"Power belongs unto God," and to Him alone. Not a creature in the entire universe has an atom of power, but what God delegates. But God's power is not acquired, nor does it depend upon any recognition by any other authority. It belongs to Him inherently.

"God's power is like Himself, self-existent, self-sustained. The mightiest of men cannot add so much as a shadow of increased power to the Omnipotent One. He sits on no buttressed throne and leans on no assisting arm. His court is not maintained by His courtiers, not does it borrow its splendor from His creatures. He is Himself the great central source and Originator of all power." (Charles Spurgeon).

Not only does all creation bear witness to the great power of God, but also to His entire independence of all created things. Listen to His own challenge: "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell Me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?" (Acts 38:4-6). How completely is the pride of man laid in the dust!

"Power is also used as a name of God, "the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power" (Mark 14:62), that is, at the right hand of God. God and power are so inseparable that they are reciprocated. As His essence is immense, not to be confined in place; as it is eternal, not to be measured in time; so it is almighty, not to be limited in regard of action." (Charnock).

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)

Saving Faith

Saving Faith

There is a dead faith, as well as a living one. There is a faith of devils, as well as a faith of God's elect. There is a faith which is vain and useless, as well as a faith which justifies and saves.

 How shall a man know whether he has true saving faith? The thing may be found out! The Ethiopian may be known by the color of his skin; and the leopard may be known by his spots. True faith may always be known by certain marks. These marks are laid down unmistakably in Scripture. Reader, let me endeavor to set these marks plainly before you. Look at them carefully - and test your own soul by what I am going to say.

1. He who truly believes in Christ - has a NEW HEART. It is written, "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature - old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17). A believer has no longer the same nature with which he was born. He is changed, renewed, and transformed after the image of His Lord and Saviour. He who minds first, the things of the flesh - has no saving faith. True faith, and spiritual regeneration, are inseparable companions. An unconverted person - is not a genuine believer!

2. He who truly believes in Christ - is a HOLY person in heart and life. It is written that God "purifies the heart by faith," and that Christians are "sanctified by faith." "Whoever has this hope in him, purifies himself." (Acts 15:9; 26:18; 1 John 3:3). A believer loves what God loves and hates what God hates. His heart's desire is to walk in the way of God's commandments, and to abstain from all manner of evil. His wish is to follow after the things which are just, and pure, and honest, and lovely - and to cleanse himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. He falls far short of his aim, in many things. He find daily life, a constant fight with indwelling corruption. But he fights on - and resolutely refuses to serve sin. Where there is no holiness, we may be sure there is no saving faith! An unholy man is not a genuine believer!

3. He who truly believes in Christ - works godly WORKS. It is written, that "faith works by love" (Gal. 5:6). True belief will never make a  man idle, or allow him to sit still, contented with his own religion. It will stir him to do acts of love, kindness, and charity, according as he sees opportunity. It will constrain him to walk in the steps of his Master, who 'went about doing good." In one way or another, it will make him work. Where there is no working love - there is no faith. A lazy, selfish professing Christian - has no right to regard himself as a genuine believer!

4. He who truly believes in Christ - overcomes the WORLD. It is written, that "whoever is born of God, overcomes the world - and this is the victory which overcomes the world - even our faith" (1 John 5:4). A true believer is not ruled by the world's standard of right or wrong, of truth or error. He is independent of the world's opinion. He cares little for the world's priase. He looks at things unseen - he sees an invisible Saviour, a coming judgement, and a crown of glory, which never fades away. There is no genuine faith with a man who is habitually conformed to the world - is not a genuine believer!

5. He who truly believes in Christ - has the witness of the Holy Spirit. He has internal evidences which the world cannot understand. Where there are no pious feelings - there is no faith. A man who knows nothing of an inward, spiritual experimental religion - is not a genuine believer!

6. He who truly believes in Christ - has a special regard to the person of CHRIST Himself. A true believer's religion does not consist in mere intellectual assent to a certain set of propositions and doctrines. It consists in union, communion, and fellowship with an actual living Person, even Jesus the Son of God. It is an actual living, personal faith in Jesus.

Where these marks of which I have been speaking, are utterly lacking, I dare not tell a man that he is a true believer. He may be called a Christian, and attend church, but if he knows nothing of these marks - I dare not pronounce him a believer. He is yet dead in trespasses and sins. He will perish everlastingly.

Show me a man who has these marks - and I feel a strong confidence about the state of his soul. He may be poor and needy in this world - but he is rich in the sight of God. He may be despised and sneered at by man - but he is honorable in the sight of the King of kings. He is traveling towards heaven! He has a mansion ready for him in the Father's house. He is cared for by Christ, while on earth. He will be owned by Christ before assembled worlds, in the life which is to  come!

~J. C. Ryle~

(The End)

The Bounties Of God

 The Bounties Of God

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man - the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9).

How often this passage is quoted only that far; how rarely are the words added, "But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit" (verse 10). Why is this? Is it because so few of God's people search out and enjoy what the Spirit has revealed in the Word about those things which God has prepared for those who love Him? If we were more occupied with God's riches, than with our poverty; Christ's fullness, than our emptiness; the divine bounties, than our leanness - on what a different level of experience we would live!

We are much impressed by noting some of "the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). It is striking to note that our Christian life starts at a marriage feast; just as Christ's first miracle was wrought at one. The word to us is, "Come, for all things are now ready"; "Behold I have prepared My dinner; My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage feast. Observe the "I have prepared," agreeing with "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9). Notice the "are ready," confirming "God has revealed them unto us" (1 Corinthians 2:10). The creature contributes nothing; all is provided for him. Finally, weigh the "come unto the marriage feast." The figure is very blessed; it speaks of joy, festivity, feasting.

He spread the banquet, make me eat, Bid all my fears remove; Yes, o'er my guilty, rebel head He placed His banner - LOVE.

A beautiful type of the lavish manner in which God bestows His bounties upon His people is found in Genesis 9:3, "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." 

These blessings are based upon God's estimate of the value of Christ's sacrifice of Himself. The abiding worth of that sacrifice is immeasurable and illimitable; as immeasurable as the personal excellency of the Son, as illimitable as the Father's delight in Him. The nature and extent of those blessings, which accrue to God's elect on the ground of Christ's finished work, are intimated by the substantives and adjectives employed by the Holy Spirit when He describes the profuseness of the divine bounties already bestowed upon us, and which we shall enjoy forever!

Take first God's grace. Not only are we told of the "riches of His grace", and of the exceeding riches of His grace:, but also we read that it has "abounded unto many," and that we receive "abundance of grace," yes, that grace has super-abounded - the limitless wealth of divine grace flowing forth and multiplying itself in its objects. The foundation or moving cause of this is found in John 1. When the only begotten Son became flesh and tabernacled here for a season, it was as One who was "full of grace and truth." Because we have been made joint heirs with Him it is written, "And of His fullness have all we received and grace upon grace." (John 1:16).

Take again God's love. There has been neither reserve nor restraint in the outflow of His love for His people with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

Our present theme is inexhaustible. Our Lord came here that His people "might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Consider now His confidences. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his Lord does. But I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:15). 

In such lavish measure God has blessed His people. What shall our response be to such divine munifleence? Surely it is that "the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many rebound to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 4:15). Surely it is that we should "abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). 

If God speaks so uniformly of the varied character of our blessing - as being so abundant it must be because He wants to impress our hearts with the exuberance of the bounties He has bestowed on us. The practical effect of this on our souls should cause us to "rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:11), to draw out all that is within us in true worship, to fit us for a closer and deeper fellowship with Him. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8).

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)